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Evidence remains conflicted on the association between dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality and risk of cardiovascular disease, all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and such meta-analyses are lacking. The study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the knowledge about their associations and to explore the dose–response relations. We comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to March 2022 for observational studies investigating the associations in adults. Random effect model was used to estimate the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the dose−response association was explored by restricted cubic splines. We obtained the data from 41 eligible studies. Compared with participants with lowest dietary carbohydrate intake, those with highest intake had an RR of 1.10 (95% CI 1.03–1.17, I 2 = 52.8%) for cardiovascular disease, 1.10 (0.98–1.24, I 2 = 65.5%) for coronary heart disease (CHD), 1.20 (1.08–1.34, I 2 = 0) for stroke, 1.07 (1.00–1.14, I 2 = 61.9%) for all-cause mortality, 1.02 (0.92–1.14, I 2 = 51.3%) for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.01 (0.89–1.13, I 2 = 56.7%) for cancer mortality. For each 5 %E increase in dietary carbohydrate intake, the summary RR was 1.02 (1.00–1.04, I 2 = 66.8%) for cardiovascular disease, 1.04 (1.01–1.06, I 2 = 0) for stroke but not significant for other outcomes. Restricted cubic splines showed linear associations with risk of cardiovascular disease (P non-linearity = 0.143), CHD (P non-linearity = 0.508), stroke (P non-linearity = 0.654) and non-linear associations with all-cause mortality (P non-linearity = 0.008) and cardiovascular mortality (P non-linearity = 0.055). Limited studies were found on the association of cardiovascular disease and mortality with dietary carbohydrate quality using a multidimensional and integrated indicator. Increased consumption of dietary carbohydrate intake is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Linear relation was found for cardiovascular disease and stroke but non-linear relation for all-cause mortality. More studies are warranted to investigate the association of dietary carbohydrate quality using a combined indicator and cardiovascular disease and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have reported conflicting associations between egg consumption and the risk of all-cause or cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, including ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality and stroke mortality. With accumulating evidence, up-to-date evidence about the association should be synthesized.Objectives: We aimed to assess the association of the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality with egg consumption.Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases through 3 November, 2021 for observational studies conducted in participants ≥18 y of age and which provided ORs, RRs, or HRs and 95% CIs for ≥3 egg consumption categories or for increased intake of egg addressing the associations of interest. A random-effects model was used to pool the reported risk estimates. Restricted cubic splines were used to examine the dose-response association.Results: Twenty-four articles with 48 reports (25 for all-cause mortality, 11 for CVD mortality, 6 for IHD mortality, and 6 for stroke mortality) involving 11,890,695 participants were included. Intake of each 1-egg/d increment was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10; P = 0.008), but the association was restricted to women, Americans, and studies with adjustments for hyperlipidemia. Egg consumption was linearly associated with CVD mortality only in participants >60 y of age, Americans, studies with follow-up duration ≥15 y, and studies with adjustments for hyperlipidemia (P ≤ 0.018). No significant association was found between egg consumption and IHD or stroke mortality (P ≥ 0.080).Conclusions: Egg consumption was linearly associated with a modestly increased risk of all-cause mortality and, in older participants, Americans, and studies with longer follow-up or adjustments for hyperlipidemia, CVD mortality. These findings suggest that it may be prudent to avoid high egg consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between Chinese visceral adipose index (CVAI) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese through a large cohort study.Methods and Results: This study included 42,165 adults who were without CHD at baseline and who completed at least one annual follow-up between 2009 and 2016. We used the Cox proportional hazards model to estimate Hazard Ratios (HRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for the association between CVAI and risk of CHD. During the median follow-up of 3.36 years (154,808 person years), 520 participants developed CHD, including 374 males and 146 females. Compared with the first quartile of CVAI, the risk of CHD was significantly increased in the fourth quartile of CVAI in multivariate model (HR [95% CI]: 9.92 [5.45, 18.04], P < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis by excluding incident CHD developed in the first two years of follow-up reinforced our results. Gender stratification analyses showed that the relationship between CVAI and CHD risk was higher in males than that in females. The restricted cubic spline showed a non-linear dose-response relationship between CVAI and CHD risk. In addition, CVAI was associated with CHD risk in the subgroups of participants without T2DM, without hypertension, and without fatty liver.Conclusion: CVAI was significantly associated with the risk of CHD. Individuals should keep CVAI at normal level to prevent CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical cutoff wall has been employed for decades to control groundwater flow and subsurface contaminant transport. The barrier performance of cutoff wall material may significantly deteriorate under dry-wet cycles due to precipitation, drought, and groundwater fluctuation. This study adopted active magnesium oxide (MgO) particles to enhance the durability of geopolymer cutoff wall backfill (GCWB) under dry-wet cycles. The influence of particle size and proportion of MgO on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), hydraulic conductivity, self-healing capacity and durability of GCWB were comprehensively examined. The results indicate that the incorporation of active MgO particles hindered the geopolymerization process of GCWB to a certain extent, leading to an increase in hydraulic conductivity and a decrease in UCS. But the overall performance of GCWB was still favorable. The hydraulic conductivity of samples with MgO gradually increased to more than 1 × 10−8 m/s after at least two dry-wet cycles. In the subsequent cycles, the samples with MgO exhibited a pattern of first gradually declining then ascending in hydraulic conductivity. This is due to hydration and carbonization of the remained MgO in matrix during the dry-wet cycles, which converts into oxygen-rich carbonates, forming well-ramified networks and reducing the proportion of macropores. Thus, the durability of GCWB with MgO is significantly more favorable than that devoid of MgO. In particular, large particle size MgO can exert more persistent self-healing effect, endowing the samples with superior durability under the prolonged dry-wet cycles. • MgO was adopted to enhance the durability of GCWB under dry-wet cycles. • The incorporation of MgO led to an increase in the hydraulic conductivity and a decrease in UCS. • Hydraulic conductivity of sample with MgO gradually increased to more than 1 × 10−8 m/s after at least two dry-wet cycles. • The durability of GCWB with MgO was significantly more favorable than that devoid of MgO. • Large particle size MgO can exert more persistent self-healing effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Homocysteine (Hcy) level has been increasingly linked with stroke and ischemic stroke (IS). However, a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies of the association is lacking. We aimed to explore the quantitative dose-response association of Hcy level with stroke and IS in a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Methods and Results: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases up to April 25, 2019 for prospective cohort studies assessing the association of Hcy level with stroke and IS. We used random-effect models to estimate the pooled relative risk (RRs) (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for the association of Hcy with risk of stroke and IS. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate possible linear or nonlinear association of Hcy level with stroke and IS. We included 10 prospective cohort studies (7 articles) with 11,061 participants in the meta-analysis. Hcy level was associated with increased risk of stroke (RR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.25-2.00, I2 = 39.5%) and IS (RR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.21-1.97, I2 = 36.4%) for the highest versus the lowest categories. We found a linear association between Hcy level and stroke (Pnonlinearity = 0.660) and IS (Pnonlinearity = 0.981). For each 1-μmol/L increase in Hcy, the pooled RR was 1.06 (95% CI 1.01-1.12, I2 = 59.0%) for stroke and 1.05 (95% CI 1.00-1.11, I2 = 58.6%) for IS.Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicated that elevated Hcy level was associated with increased risk of stroke and IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Limited evidence is available on the association of mean arterial pressure and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Chinese people. We aimed to investigate the association between MAP and risk of T2DM in rural Chinese adults.Methods: We performed a cohort study of 12,284 eligible participants (4668 men and 7616 women) without T2DM at baseline. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of MAP with risk of T2DM. Restricted cubic spline models were used to evaluate the dose-response association between MAP and risk of T2DM.Results: During a median of 6.01 years follow-up (73,403.52 person-years), T2DM developed in 847 participants (318 men and 529 women). In the multivariable-adjusted models, risk of T2DM was significantly higher for women with the third (90-100mmHg) and fourth MAP categories (≥100mmHg) than the first category (<80mmHg) after adjusting for confounders (HR=1.74 [95% CI 1.14-2.68] and 1.84 [1.20-2.83]). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed increased risk of T2DM with increasing MAP for women.Conclusion: High MAP was related to high incident T2DM among women in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the association between WWI and the incidence of HTN in the Rural Chinese Cohort Study.Methods and Results: We examined data for 10,338 non-hypertensive participants (39.49% men) aged ≥ 18 years from the Rural Chinese Cohort Study who completed a baseline examination during 2007-2008 and follow-up during 2013-2014. WWI was calculated as waist circumference (cm) divided by the square root of weight (kg). Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the probability of HTN across four WWI categories. Restricted cubic splines analysis was used to model the dose-response association of WWI and HTN. A total of 2078 participants had HTN during a median follow-up of 6 years. After adjusting for potential confounders, as compared with the lowest WWI category (<9.94 cm/√kg), with WWI 9.94 to 10.42, 10.42 to 10.91 and ≥ 10.91 cm/√kg, the ORs (95% CIs) for HTN were 1.12 (0.93-1.35), 1.40 (1.17-1.69) and 1.50 (1.24-1.82), respectively. Results of the sensitivity analyses were robust. The ORs were generally consistent on subgroup analysis by sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Multiple logistic regression models with restricted cubic splines showed a non-linear positive association between WWI and HTN (Pnonlinearity < 0.001).Conclusion: The highest WWI category was significantly associated with increased risk of HTN. Our findings may facilitate the development and promotion of obesity prevention strategies aimed at reducing the risk of HTN and provide evidence for healthcare policy in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is rapidly gaining attention as a potential risk of developing atherosclerosis due to its crucial role in the regulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) metabolism. The present study investigated the relationship between serum PCSK9 levels and early atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid intimal-medial thickness (CIMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods and Results: A total of 100 newly diagnosed T2DM were enrolled and further divided into the thickened CIMT group (n = 41) and the non-thickened CIMT group (n = 59) according to the results of color Doppler ultrasonography. Serum PCSK9 levels, CIMT, ba-PWV, and metabolic parameters were measured. Patients in the thickened CIMT group had higher serum PCSK9 levels than patients in the non-thickened CIMT group (all P < 0.05). CIMT and ba-PWV were both positively correlated to serum PCSK9 levels, while serum PCSK9 levels were positively correlated to white blood cell count, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression indicated that serum PCSK9 level was an independent predictor of CIMT (β = 0.637, P < 0.001) and ba-PWV (β = 0.600, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that serum PCSK9 levels were independent risk factors of thickened CIMT [OR = 1.120, 95%CI (1.041-1.204), P = 0.002].Conclusion: Serum PCSK9 levels are significantly correlated with CIMT and ba-PWV, independent of CAD risk factors. Therefore, serum PCSK9 level may have the potential to serve as a prescriptive biomarker for early arteriosclerosis in newly diagnosed T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new mexicanolide-type limonoids with isomerized furan fragment khaysenelides G–J (1–4) were isolated from the stem barks of Khaya senegalensis . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of (1D and 2D) NMR and HRESIMS, and the normal furan rings in 1 - 4 were isomerized to hydroxybutenolide moieties. Bioactivities screening of new compounds indicated that 1 showed potent cytotoxicities against MDA-MB-231 and HepG2 human cancer cell lines with IC 50 values of 6.02 and 8.98 μM, and significant NO inhibitory activities in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC 50 values of 3.51 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuroprotective effects of estrogen against cerebral ischaemia have been confirmed by multiple basic and clinical studies. However, most of these studies used exogenous estrogen administered via different injection methods, and the neuroprotective effects of endogenous estrogen produced by ovaries during different phases of estrous cycle and the underlying mechanisms involved have rarely been explored. In this study, we first identified the stage of estrous cycle via vaginal smears and then measured serum estradiol levels at each phase via radioimmunoassay. We found that the estradiol level was highest in the proestrous and lowest in the diestrous. However, ovariectomy or treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole significantly decreased estradiol levels compared to that of rats in diestrous. Western blotting showed that ovariectomy or letrozole treatment significantly decreased ERα and Bcl-2 protein expression and dramatically increased Bax protein expression compared with the rats in diestrous or proestrous. Rats also underwent 2 h of ischaemia via middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by a 24-h reperfusion. Ovariectomy or letrozole treatment significantly decreased the neurological scores and the number of intact neurons detected via Nissl staining and dramatically increased the infarct volume detected via TTC staining and the extent of apoptosis detected via TUNEL staining and Western blotting for cleaved-caspase 3 protein expression. These results demonstrate that endogenous estrogen alleviates ischaemia-reperfusion injury by maintaining Bcl-2 expression via ERα signalling pathway and highlight the neuroprotective effects of endogenous estrogen during different stages of the estrous cycle, providing preliminary information on the underlying mechanism of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A geopolymer cutoff wall backfill was developed, which does not need Ordinary Portland Cement and bentonite. • The unconfined compressive strength and hydraulic conductivity can achieve 6.62 MPa and 4.83 × 10−11 m/s. • The chemical compatibility of GCWB was overall favorable in contaminant solutions. • The hydraulic conductivity was only slightly larger than 1 × 10−8 m/s after 10 dry-wet cycles. • The GCWB is a promising antifouling cutoff wall material. Vertical cutoff wall is one of the most effective technologies to restrict the migration of contaminants. In this study, a geopolymer cutoff wall backfill (GCWB) consisting of reactive sodium silicate, fly ash, sand, and water was developed, which does not need Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and bentonite. The basic macroscopic properties of GCWB were tested, in terms of workability, unconfined compressive strength, hydraulic conductivity, and chemical compatibility, then the optimal material ratio was determined. In order to evaluate the barrier performance of GCWB under dry-wet cycles, the hydration products and microstructural characteristics were measured by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). According to the orthogonal analysis, the optimal material ratio with the highest unconfined compressive strength was 30FA1.2M12S and that with the lowest hydraulic conductivity was 40FA1.2M12S. The unconfined compressive strength and hydraulic conductivity of GCWB can achieve 6.62 MPa and 4.83 × 10−11 m/s after cured for 28 days, respectively. The chemical compatibility of GCWB was overall favorable in Na 2 SO 4 and CaCl 2 solutions. Under the effect of dry-wet cycles, the variation of hydraulic conductivity, mass and volume in contaminant solutions were basically the same as that in water. The hydraulic conductivity increased sharply by two orders of magnitude after the 1st dry-wet cycle and tended to be stable (slightly larger than 1 × 10−8 m/s) in the subsequent dry-wet cycles. Therefore, the barrier performance and durability of GCWB was desirable in water and contaminant solutions, indicating that it is a promising antifouling cutoff wall material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry powder of the roots from the wetland halophyte species Kosteletzkya pentacarpos grown in the presence or in the absence of 50 mM NaCl was used for biosorption of Cd and Zn. Experiments were performed in batch conditions using 100 mg of root powder and 10 mL of contaminated solution. Optimal temperature was found to be 25 °C and contact time of 15 min was sufficient for maximal adsorption. Sorption efficiency was higher for Cd (88.8%) than for Zn (56.9%). The maximal adsorption value q m was 10.6 μmoles g −1 DW for Cd and 7.98 μmoles g −1 DW for Zn. The use of roots collected from plants grown for 16 weeks in the presence of NaCl improved sorption process, especially for Zn. This positive impact could be related to the salt-induced increase in mucilage pectic compounds and hemicellulose involved in heavy metal binding. In contrast, the presence of NaCl during the biosorption incubation reduced sorption efficiency as a result of a competition between Na + and divalent cations for binding sites. Removal of the majority of pollutant was obtained by 0.2 M (Cd) or 0.3 M (Zn) HCl. It is concluded that roots of K. pentacarpos provide a valuable biological material for heavy metal retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DFT methods have been used to study the reaction mechanism of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohol catalyzed by ferrocenecarboxaldehyde/NaOH. The structures of intermediates and transition states, and the exchange of electronic density are computed in detail. In general, the catalyzed reaction is consists of three steps: hydride transfer step with the electron transfer, crossing-aldol condensation step, and the reduction step. Hydride transfer is the speed control step with the highest energy barrier (about 32 kcal/mol). Our calculation results are fundamentally coincident with the experimental detections, and manifest the crossing-coupling reaction occurs through a reliable mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption and successive dehydrogenation mechanisms of NH 3 on Pd-Cu (1 1 1) and Cu-Pd (1 1 1) surfaces (the Pd atoms substitution of the first and second layers of Cu (1 1 1) surfaces) have been systematically investigated by density functional theory (DFT) method with a periodic slab model. All possible adsorption configurations of relevant intermediates on Pd-Cu (1 1 1) and Cu-Pd (1 1 1) surfaces are identified. It is revealed that the adsorption configurations and corresponding adsorption energies of adsorbates are slightly changed on Pd-Cu (1 1 1) and Cu-Pd (1 1 1) surfaces. The adsorption energies of NH x (x = 0–3) species exhibit the following trend: NH 3 < NH 2 < NH < N. Then, the minimum energy path for the complete dehydrogenation of NH 3 into adsorbed N and H is identified to explore the dehydrogenation mechanisms on different surfaces. The highest energy barrier and reaction energy on Pd-Cu (1 1 1) surface are greatly reduced to 1.56 and 0.99 eV, implying that the complete dehydrogenation of NH 3 on Pd-Cu (1 1 1) surface is favorable both kinetically and thermodynamically, namely, the doped-Pd atoms in the first layer are the reaction active center. Compared to that on clean Pd (1 1 1) and Cu (1 1 1) surfaces, it is found that the synergistic effect exits in different layers of catalyst surfaces. The calculated results show that the layer-substituted Pd atoms on the surface of Cu catalysts exhibit a better catalytic activity for NH 3 dehydrogenation compared to the clean Cu (1 1 1) surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 20 years since its introduction, Kosteletzkya virginica has proved to be one of the optimal halophytes for saline land restoration in China. In six seashore mallow plantations, its well-developed perennial root system promoted the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in the rhizosphere, where the fungus’s activity produced total glomalin (TG, ranging from 0.85 to 2.43 mg g −1 soil), with a high ratio of TG/SOC (soil organic carbon) up to 53.29% in six-year-old seashore mallow plantation. K. virginica ameliorated the condition of saline soils, promoted native species growth, and increased plant diversity in the plantation sites. Seashore mallow contains many bioactive compounds, e.g., polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, etc. which have high bioactivity, and could be used as a fodder additive or for the development of health foods. The leaf, flower, stem and root of K. virginica , serve as raw materials for hierachical development of useful products according to their different properties. This study reviews and summarizes research on K. virginica in China during the past 20 years since its introduction from the USA. Also, we present guidelines for the planting and use of seashore mallow in China, in terms of an ecological engineering roadmap, which illustrates the process and strategy for the restoration of saline soils and designs for biomass industries based on its production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (Ndrg2) is a newly identified molecule that is mainly expressed in astrocytes within the central nervous system (CNS) and is involved in the proliferation and activation of astrocytes. 17β-estradiol (E2) is one of the most important circulating hormones, and in the CNS, astrocytes are a target and potential mediator of the action of E2. Our most recent study found that DPN, an estrogen receptor (ER) β-specific agonist, activated the Ndrg2 promoter and elevated endogenous NDRG2 protein expression in MCF7, HSG and T-47D cells. However, whether E2 regulates Ndrg2 expression in astrocytes remains unknown. Here, we conducted both in vivo and in vitro experiments and found that ERβ co-localized with NDRG2 in astrocytes. Furthermore, in primary cultured astrocytes, we demonstrated that E2 up-regulated Ndrg2 mRNA and protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner and that the ERβ agonist DPN but not the ERα agonist PPT up-regulated Ndrg2 expression. In vivo, we found that in the hippocampus of adult ovariectomized (OVX) female mice, Ndrg2 mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased compared with those in normal adult female mice. After the OVX mice received continuous subcutaneous injections of 50μg/kg E2, 100μg/kg E2 or the ERβ agonist DPN for 10 days, the Ndrg2 expression significantly increased compared with that of the OVX mice. Our results indicate that E2 may affect astrocytes by regulating Ndrg2 expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An efficient and convenient procedure for direct esterification of alkyl and aryl silyl ethers with Ac2O and a catalyst system of perchloric acid immobilized on a silica gel (HClO4–SiO2) has been developed. The silyl protecting groups are directly replaced by acetyls and the protecting groups themselves are transformed into acetates as the sole byproducts, which can be readily recovered and converted back to silylchlorides, the original protecting agents, thus minimizing wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of novel 2′,3′-diethanethio-2′,3′,5′-trideoxy-5′-triazoloribonucleosides was synthesized in excellent yields and their antitumor activity was evaluated. These nucleoside analogues with aromatic substituted triazole rings showed significantly improved activity towards a broad range of tumor cell lines and those without arene substitutes were inactive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of novel 2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-diethanethioribonucleosides and those modified with a triazole ring were prepared in excellent yields and their antitumor activity was evaluated. Nucleosides with a triazole ring, 16a–16c, showed significantly improved activity towards a broad range of tumor cell lines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The transformation of acetonides into acetates is frequently required in synthetic chemistry. An efficient procedure for direct conversion of acetonides into acetates in the presence of HClO4–SiO2 under mild conditions was developed. The acetonides of primary hydroxy groups are directly converted to diacetates, and the anomeric acetonides of furanosides are stereoselectively transformed into the corresponding acetyl β-d-furanosides with a 2-acetoxyisopropyl group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rice-duck mutualism is one form of ecological engineering which makes use of the symbiotic relationship between rice and ducks to more effectively utilize materials, reduce chemical fertilizer and pesticide inputs, increase product safety and overall productivity and decrease the pollutants discharged from rice-fields. This is becoming a popular mode for organic rice production in China and it can be used as one measure taken in the drainage area to assist in the ecological rehabilitation of lakes. This study applied the emergy evaluation method to analyze the resource use and environmental impact of organic rice-duck mutualism (mode 1) compared with the conventional wheat/rice rotation system (mode 2) in the same farm to evaluate its sustainability and ecological and economic benefits and provide suggestions for optimizing this system. The results showed that mode 1 produced greater emergy benefits, and had higher self-organization, lower environmental pressure and higher product safety. The net emergy yield ratio (EYR), feedback ratio of yield emergy (FYE) and emergy sustainable index (ESI) of mode 1 were 1.57 times, 14.10 times and 8.71 times those of mode 2, respectively, and the emergy index of product safety (PSI) was 0 in mode 1 and −0.66 in mode 2. The emergy investment ratio (EIR) and environmental loading ratio (ELR) were 40.1 and 18.3% of those of mode 2. The economic benefit of mode 1 was lower than mode 2. The economic output, gross income and net income of mode 1 were 15.7, 10.8 and 35.4% less than those of mode 2, respectively, but using Em$, the output, gross income and net income of mode 1 were 47.4, 161.2, 87.3% higher than mode 2. With the development of markets for organic foods, mode 1 has the potential to achieve better economic benefits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Testosterone is one of the most common doping drugs abused by athletes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a sensitive and simple method to monitor testosterone and its epimer epitestosterone. An off-line immunoaffinity extraction followed by capillary electrophoresis for simultaneous determination of testosterone and epitestosterone has been described in this paper. Anti-epitestosterone monoclonal antibody which is specific to both testosterone and epitestosterone had been prepared and immobilized on a Sepharose 4B stationary phase. The immunoaffinity column was used for sample cleanup, extraction and preconcentration. After elution and reconstitution, testosterone and epitestosterone in the sample were separated and quantified by micellar electrokinetic chromatography(MEKC) using the borate buffer (200mM borate, pH 8.7) containing 40mM sodium cholate as a chiral selector. The immunoaffinity column was evaluated in different parameters such as the retention mechanism, selectivity, binding capacity, elution protocol, and reusability. The separation of these two compounds by MEKC was also optimized. Limit of detection for testosterone and epitestosterone were 5 and 23ngmL−1, respectively. It was satisfactory to apply this method to analyze testosterone and epitestosterone in spiked urine sample with the recoveries from 78% to 109%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The beach plum has a promising future in China for its strong adaptability to harsh environment, its tasty fruits, and high ornamental value. Shortage of propagules is now a serious problem that undermines its popularity in China. This paper aims to study vegetation recovery through beach plum on wastelands, especially strategies for solving propagule deficiency. Techniques for cloning adequate seedlings in a timely fashion and ways to improve the survival rate of transplantation are described. Specifically, tissue culture is first conducted in laboratory to clone enough seedlings of this species, and then cutting (by hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings) is implemented to obtain a large number of beach plum seedlings. In the subsequent period of training of beach plum seedlings in the greenhouse, inoculation of Glomus mosseae significantly promotes their growth. Then healthy seedlings are transplanted to target sites on a large scale with paper cups. Three such sites in Jiangsu Province are selected to demonstrate our strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The rational input of materials is one of the key techniques to realize the comprehensive benefits of an agro-ecological engineering mode and is an important element of the hardware of an ecological engineering. The calculation of fertilizer application rate is the common difficulty for farmers in planting organic rice, for which the model of an optimum fertilizer application was applied and the corresponding field verification experiment was also carried out. The results showed that the calculated yields were quite close to the actual ones by the selected model, although the actual yields were all higher. So adding a constant K adjusting N supply to the model was set forth in order to improve the accuracy of forecasting yields. The field experiment showed that if the green manure grew well, no application, the occurrence of diseases and pests (except rice leaf rollers) did not become heavier with more organic N input, and the resistance to white-backed plant hoppers became higher with more organic N input. The test of the rice quality showed that the organic rice quality was quite stable and rarely impacted by different N input levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spartina alterniflora is a perennial salt marsh grass native to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America. Recognized for its effects of diminishing strong tide even storms and accelerating sediment deposition, S. alterniflora was introduced into China in 1979. Now the artificial vegetation of Spartina has expanded to around 50000hm2 along the east coast of China due to its strong capability of propagating by seeds and rhizome fragments. Although it was listed among 16 harmful exotic species in China 3 years ago, we need to evaluate its positive and negative effects in the coastal region of China objectively. This paper reviews some major positive effects of S. alterniflora in China, e.g. being a dominant primary producer, buffering against tides, accelerating accretion and reclamation, absorbing nutrients and digesting pollutants, as well as some major negative effects, e.g. occupying the niche of local species, altering the mudflat habitat, changing and even diminishing biodiversity, and damaging the aquiculture in the tidal land. In addition, its biomaterial uses and biological substitution as a means of ecological regulation is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]